Adjustable top for boats



3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 6, 1.949

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Hnse Z Lindsey Sept. 4, 1951 A. LINDSEY 2,566,572

ADJUSTABLE TOP FOR BOATS & glvwe/wboa/ Ansel Lindsey ATTOR N EYS Sept. 4, 1951 A. LINDSEY 2,565,572

ADJUSTABLE TOP FOR BOATS Filed June 6, 1949 5 Shee ts-Sheet s flnsel Lindsey AT ORNEY5 Patented Sept. 4, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ADJUSTABLE TOP FOR BOATS Ansel Lindsey, San Jose, Calif.

Application June 6, 1949, Serial No. 97,394

3 Claims.

This invention is directed to, and it is an object to provide, a novel accessory top for initially open-top boats such as row boats or the like; the top being adjustable to fit boats having different beams.

Another object of the invention is to provide a top, for the purpose described, which is adapted to be detachably mounted on a boat, collapsible for carrying, and readily manually portable; the top being of sturdy but light-weight construction.

A further object of the invention is to embody a novel adjustable, and foldable, frame structure for the top.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a boat top which includes initially separate side curtains and a rear curtain; such curtains being detachably secured to the frame by snap fasteners for ease of attachment or removal of said curtains.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a top designed for ease and economy of manufacture.

Another object of the invention is to provide a practical and reliable top, and one which will be exceedingly effective for the purpose for which it is designed.

These objects are accomplished by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side view of the top as mounted on a boat; the adjacent side curtain being removed.

Fig. 2 is a front end view of the'top, partly in section.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional elevation of the rear portion of the frame structure; the view being taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional elevation of the front portion of the frame structure.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the top frame detached and with the canopy removed.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on the drawings, the novel boat top comprises an upstanding skeleton frame structure, indicated generally at I, which frame includes an open top frame 2 comprised of transverse ribs 3 disposed apart lengthwise of the boat on which the top is attached.

The transverse ribs 3 are connected together at spaced points by longitudinally extending, foldable cross braces 4 pivotally connected at opposite ends, as at 5, to cradle-like brackets 6 which receive, and are fixed to, the depending flange I of corresponding ribs 3; the latter being formed of angle from as shown.

III

With this arrangement it will be recognized that the transverse ribs 3 which are normally spaced apart, as in Fig. 5, may be brought into close proximity by folding the pivotally connected cross braces 4.

An angle iron post or stanchion 8 depends fromv each corner of the top frame 2 in supporting relation to the latter, and a relatively short depending angle iron leg 9 in turn supports each stanchion 8 at the lower end of the latter.

Each stanchion is connected at its upper end to the adjacent rib 3 by an upper adjustment unit, indicated generally at I0, and by means of which unit such stanchion is transversely swingably adjustable, but normally maintained in relatively rigid relation.

Similarly, each leg 9 is connected at its upper end to the lower end of the corresponding stanchion 8 by a lower adjustment unit I I, by means of which said leg is transversely swingably adjustable, but normally maintained in a relatively rigid position.

Each of the upper adjustment units I8 comprises a transverse adjustment plate I 2 fixed to the end portion of the corresponding rib 3 and depending therefrom. The corresponding stanchion 8 is pivoted at its upper end, as at I3, to the plate I2, and an adjustment bolt I4 extends through the stanchion 8 and plate I2 in spaced relation from the pivot I3; the plate I2 having an arcuate slot I5 concentric to the pivot I8, and through which slot the adjustment bolt I4 extends.

A wing nut I5 on the bolt I4 normally maintains each upper adjustment unit ID in a locked position.

Each lower adjustment unit II is structurally substantially the same as each unit I0, and includes a transverse adjustment plate I! on the lower end of the corresponding stanchion 8; the upper end of the adjacent leg being pivoted, as at I8, to the plate I1. The adjustment bolt I9 extends through the leg 9 and plate 11; the latter having an arcuate slot 20, concentric to the pivot I 8, through which said bolt extends. The adjustment bolt I9 includes a wing nut 2I which normally maintains the adjustment unit locked.

Each depending leg 9 is formed, on the outside thereof, with a downwardly opening spring hook 22 adapted to detachably engage over the gunwale 23 of the adjacent side 24 of the boat; adjacent faces of each leg 9 and hook 22 being padded. as at 25, to prevent marring of the boat.

With the stanchions 8 and legs 9 each transversely swingably adjustable by means of the adjustment units I0 and II, the frame structure of the top can be altered in its span to match the beam of the boat on which the top is to be used. Additionally, the legs 9 adjust to rest in parallelism with respect to the corresponding sides 24 of the boat, so that the hooks 22 may properly engage over the gunwales 23.

When the top is not in use the top frame 2 is folded or collapsed as previously described, and additionally the stanchions 8 and legs 9 are folded inwardly until they lie relatively closely adjacent and lengthwise of the ribs 3. In this manner the frame structure when collapsed or folded forms a light compact bundle which is easy to carry and. transport.

The top frame 2 is fitted with a permanently attached canvas top or canopy 26 which extends between the ribs 3, and from end to end of said top frame 2.

Additionally, the top includes initially separate side curtains 2'? and a rear curtain 28; such curtains being adapted to be detachably secured to the frame structure by snap fasteners 29 and 36 for the side curtains 2'5 and rear curtain 28, respectively. The rear curtain includes a vertical pleat 3| which is provided for the purpose of permitting said rear curtain to compensate in length for adjustment in Width of the frame structure to the beam of a boat; i. e. to compensate for transverse adjustment of the stanchions 8 to which said rear curtain 28 is connected.

A horizontal elastic strap 82 connects between the pleat 3| and a spaced point on the rear curtain; such elastic strap 32 being included for the purpose of yieldably holding the pleat 81 against unnecessary expansion.

The rear curtain 28 includes a rear window 83 of light-weight construction, and preferably having a non-breakable pane.

In order to maintain the frame structure in its open position when in use, and with the top frame 2 fully open as in Fig. 5, diagonal braces 35 detachably 1 connect between pins 35 on the stanchions 8 at the same side of the frame structure. These diagonal braces are especially useful in windy weather to maintain the frame structure against possible folding.

The canvas top or canopy 26 is secured to the transverse ribs 3' by a suitable securing or binding strip 36 of ornamental type; such canopy 26 projectingoutwardly a short distance beyond the rear rib 3, as at 37. Such projection 31 of the canopy 26 is provided with snap fasteners 83 adapted to couple to the canopy of an extension top section (not shown) of the same general construction ashereinbefore described. Additionally, the cradle-like brackets 6 include outward projections or ears 39 for connection with the foldable braces of such extension top, and which foldable braces would correspond to those indicated at 4.

When the described boat top is in use it provides a sturdy, effective, and reliable shelter for occupants of the boat; protecting such occupants from the sun, rain, and other weather conditions.

The design of the boat top is such that it can be quickly adjusted and applied to any initially open top boat within relatively wide beam limits.

After use, the boat top is easily detached and folded into a compact bundle, as previously described, for easy manual transport and ready carrying in an automobile.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that there has been produced such a device as substantially fulfills the objects of the invention, as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as de=- fined by the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, the following is claimed as new and useful, and upon which Letters Patent are desired:

1. A detachable top for an initially open-top boat, comprising an upstanding skeleton frame structure adapted to extend above the boat,said frame structure including a top frame having spaced stanchions supporting the same at opposite sides, said stanchions being transversely swingably adjustable, means to secure the stanchions adjacent their lower ends to opposite sides of the boat, a curtain adapted to connect be tween the stanchions at one end of the frame structure, and a vertical pleat in said curtain to permit the latter to compensate for transverse adjustment of said end stanchions.

2. A top, as in claim 1, including an elastic strap connected between said pleat and curtain in a manner tending to prevent expansion of said pleat.

3. Means for detachably connecting a boat top frame and canopy unit of fixed width to different boats of varying beam, such means including vertically disposed stanchions for supporting the top frame, such stanchions being pivoted at their .upper ends for lateral swinging adjustment relative to the top frame, a leg pivoted to the lower end of each stanchion for lateral swinging adjustment relative to the stanchion, a downwardly opening spring hook mounted on each leg and projecting laterally out therefrom in substantial parallelism therewith and being swingable with the leg, such hooks being adapted to fit over the side of the boat and hold the hooks and legs in frictional engagement with such sides of the boat in any position of angularity of the legs relative to the stanchions, means connected between the top frame'and stanchions to fix the stanchions in adjusted position relative to the top frame, and separate means connected between the legs and stanchions to fix the legs in adjusted position relative to the stanchions.

ANSEL LINDSEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS MacDonald Sept. 6, 19,49 

